The Reason for Marriage

“So you’re leaving then? Just packing your things and going?”

“She is a free woman. If I force her to stay it will be like locking her in a gilded cage, stealing her freedom from her. She loves her life, her job as a Bureau of Investigation operative. She would hate being queen.

It would be difficult for me to give her happiness, I am always busy and can’t always spend time with her.”

“That doesn’t matter. This is a precious moment that you have to hang on to. Take a break from palace life. I can show you places to go.”

“No. Obviously, the international situation is not too serious yet, but we have to stay alert.” Daniel said and shook his head. He forcefully swallowed his words, as he wanted her to be able to play line ball when she got old.

“If I am around her any longer, I might not be able to let her go at all. I’m terrified that I won’t be able to resist using my power to force her to stay. I have been tempted before, and the feeling is only growing in intensity,” Daniel said with a forced smile.

“I sent off my parents, Kayden, Regen, my brother, and Ashe. It’ll be okay. There are other things to worry about than women’s problems.”

***

Daniel and Iveca finished their last report calmly, no emotional outbursts.

Kayden returned after his three months of suspension.

Iveca watched Daniel as he signed her report, using the pen which she had given to him.

“Eve, you’ve done a great job,” the king said.

“Thank you.”

“Kayden arrived yesterday. I told him directly that I wanted him to submit the comprehensive report in person. He accepted the responsibility.”

“Yes, I heard,” Iveca said, standing stiff and straight, trying to remain calm.

However, she would have been lying to herself if she didn’t admit that she was disappointed. She wondered why he was drawing things out now that Kayden was back. He created a strange intimacy with her, but she didn’t know why.

As soon as she left, she would be alone again. No one would ask her how her day was, no one would offer to pick up her car, no one would ask for her opinion on various topics.

Of course, she still had Reina and Sid, but her relationship with them felt different to the one that she shared with Daniel. He seemed to be genuinely curious about her, and what she thought.

“Do you have any new assignments yet?” Daniel asked.

“I’ve temporarily been assigned to Staram smuggling case.”

“…Take care of yourself.”

“I will,” Iveca said.

It was over. Now she would only ever be able to see Daniel from a distance at an official event if they happened to both be there at the same time. At banquets, he would dance with noble ladies, and choose one of them to be his queen.

He was so handsome, diligent, friendly, and had a kind smile. All the noble ladies said that they were thrilled for days after having a few conversations with him.

She had seen him every day for three months. Accidental events had blurred the line between them. A strange bond had formed between them. She could not help falling for him.

But Iveca knew that she would be able to move on, forget about him. She had done it before with other men. She had forgotten about Anriq, who she had wanted to be with so badly.

***

Iveca was assigned to the Staram smuggling case, going down to the provinces to spend her time dealing with hectic problems.

She decided that if she left Amenity, and buried herself in her work, she would soon forget her light crush.

A month had passed since they calmly returned to their seats.

Rihan Kadmin, a famous artist from Staram, crossed the border creating a lot of attention that was focused on him. Taking advantage of the chaos, Ethan, the second prince of the Empire, secretly entered the palace.

Iveca was on her way to Rento, the southern part of the Amethan Kingdom, to track Staram’s smuggling ring. She had infiltrated for a full month but had only caught loaches. Clearly, the item smuggling ring in Staram had a unique way of moving goods.

“I’ve been there, Sir. This is a related report. I understand that there is a huge force called ‘King’, but I can’t get a grasp of anything else.”

Iveca teamed up with Reina, but they were not able to uncover anything new.

Wiles received the report with a serious expression on his face.

After a month, the Bureau of Investigation was confused. Of course, they knew that something big had happened. However, there was a strange tension that could not be dismissed.

“Eve!”

“Yes sir?”

“The Chief of the Bureau of Investigation told me that he had something to say to you when you come. Take a short break and go inside.”